Oil filter



May 14, 1946. M. KATCKJHER OIL FILTER Filed Dec. 7, 1942 3 'Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR MRR/5 A117095?.

BY ATTQRN EY May 14, 1946. M. KATCHER OIL FILTER Filed Deo. 7, 1942 :s Sheets-sheet 2 BY Mm! ATTORNEY :May 14, 1946.` M. kATcHER 0 2,400,200

OIL FILTER `Filed Dec. 7. 1942 sheets-sheet :s

T`1:i.5.45 -Vlzrl `5 l w 4 ATTORNEY Patented May 14, 1946 Application Decemberl 7, 1942, Serial No. 468.044 4 claims. fici. 21o-401i This invention relates `to an oil fil-tering` device which when clogged from iiltering oil is adapted to be cleaned by causing a reverse flow of fluid through it. The iiltering means or' material in the filter is used over again, contrary to a type of present oil filter which uses a cartridge of rfiltering material which when choked is thrown away and a new one substituted therefor. device is especially useful in the lubricating system o! an internal combustion engine.` The ltering means I prefer to use has openings, interstices or pores which become smaller the nearer the means is to where the oil leaves it, considering a flow of oil passing through the means. The finer particles of impurities in the oil as the latter normally flows through the means pass through the coarser openings in the means near where the oil enters until they reach'openings small enough to stop them. Particles of larger size are stopped before they have traveled through the means as far as the finer particles. This Variation in the size of the interstices also increases the iiltering capacity of the means because it tends to prevent the smaller particles from clogging up the means at the side where the oil enters it by permitting said smaller particles to penetrate the means. By so penetrating they The pass on away from the entrance-until they are stopped by a small'enough opening in the interior of the means. When the normal flow pf oil 30 is reversed through the means for cleaning it, the particles are enabled to leave it as they reach openings increasing in size on their way out. Instead o! reversing the -flow of oil from normal through said means, air may be blown through it in reverse direction to the normal flow. Other iiuids besides air, such as kerosene, soap solutions and solvents or the like may beused for cleaning; Instead of forcing a tluid through the means by pressure to'eiect a reverse flow from o normal, suction may be applied to the side of the 'means where the oil enters in its normal `ilow eating system, part of the oil from the lubricating system is sent in reverse direction through the filtering means or material. The filtering mate-y rial may be granular filling material, or iibrous `spaced relation across the patiner the flowing ou.

Mechanism is provided for 'the reversal of iiow which `at-theV same time cuts off the filtering chamber from sending fluid back to the lubricating system. l

Manyof the advantages of the filtering device are of use with other types oi' ltering means orV material other than themeans with interstices decreasing in size toward the side of said means where the oil leaves it.

While primarily designed for use in the lubri-` cating system of an internal combustion engine, the device can be used for filtering purposes in other fields such as for cleaning air, the liquors in chemical processes or other suitable fluids carrying fllterable particles.

Where the filter device is used in motor vehicles, it is convenient to use air to clean the device, as a source oi compressed lair is available in most service or gas stations.

Other objects and-advantages will become apparent upon further study of the description and drawings, in whlch- Figfl is a vertical section through that form of the device, where iluid is forced into thechamber from its outlet 'side for cleaning, some parts being shown partially in elevation.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device taken at right angles to Fig. 1, the lewe/r portion of the sludge receptacle being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a plan view looking down on the top of the device.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial section showing the detent for the pressure valve lever at the top ofthe iilter. l

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section, partially in elevation, of a filter assembly of the porous lling material type shown removed from the device.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section.; partially in elevation, of a filter assembly of the screen type shown removed from the device.

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the iilter assembly of Fig. 5 with portions of the successive layers broken away. i

Fig. 8 is` a partial section taken along the line 8--8 of Fig. 5. y y f Fig. 9 is a vertical 'section through a form of the device where air is sucked through by an injector from the inlet vside ofthe chamber for cleaning, some parts being shown partially in elevation. i

Fig. l0 is a partial elevation taken at the bottom of the device of Fig. 9 and at right angles thereto.l p

Fig. 11 is a partial section to an enlarged scale of say cellulosic fiber, or it may be screens set in 85 taken along the line Il-II oi' Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section through a form of the device, some parts .being shown partially in elevation, where the cleaning-action is produced by a reversal of iiow of the oil from the lubricating system, and

Fig 13 is a partial elevation taken similarly to Fig. 10 but shows a tube for connection with the intake manifold of the engin for suction.

In the device shown in Figs. 1 a sheet metal shell I4 is clamped by bolts I5 between castings I6 and I1 forming a housing enclosing a chamber I. Extending transversely across shell I4 is a set of screens |8, the screen at the bottom having larger openings or interstices than the one next above it, and the next one above the latter having stili smaller openings and so on up, each succeeding screen toward the top having smaller openings than the one just below it. Tube I9 extends through screens I8 from the bottom one to the top and -forms `a well or bypass of the screens. Slidably mounted at the top of tube I 9 is a valve plug 20 whose' side for its lower portion is provided with iiutes 2|, Figs. 5, 6 and 8. A valve collar 22v isformed on the top of valve plug 20 to prevent the latter from being pulled into tube i9 by the tension of spring 23. 'Ihe top of spring 23 is hooked onto the bottom of plug 20 while the bottom of said spring is hooked about rod 1| which extends across the bottom of tube I9 and is fastened thereto. This normally keeps the top of tube I9 closed, opening it only when suilicient pressure is developed in the tube to lift collar 22 off its seat. Valve rod 24 extends slidably through casting I6, cage 25 serving also as a guide and to limit the upward motion of collar 22. Below the lowest screen or perforated member I8 is a distributing space 25 in casting I1 into which the Ioil is forced from passage 21 which in turn is connected by pipe 28 to the pressure side of a lubricating system (not shown). In casting I1, below the level of the top of passage 21 is a sump'29. A coarsely perforated plate 52 is between sump 29 and distributing space 26. Plate 52 keeps whatever turbulence there is in space 26 from picking up sludge which may have reached sump 29. To a certain extent the filter is self cleaning, in that when the engine is at rest and there is no ow through the lubricating system,`

the iiltered out particles will drop down from the screens, and as the lower screens have larger openings than those above them, the particles will tend to drop through successively lower screens until they reach the sump. A layer of felt or felt screen is sewed or otherwise fastened to the underside of a perforated plate 33 located in shell |4 above the top screen I8. It acts as a support for felt screen 10. I prefer to use this felt screen, although it may be omitted. A passage 30 passes through the bottom of casting |1 from sump 29 and leads to the sludge receptacle 3|. 'I'he lower end of casting I1 is threaded to receive the threaded neck of sludge receptacle 3|. A vent 32 is provided in receptacle 3|. A passage 34 leads from space 35 in casting I6 to tube 36. 'I'he lower end of tube 36 connects with passage 31 in casting I1. A tube 38 leads from passage 31 back to the lubricating system.

AA rotatably mounted valve stem 39 extends across passages 21, 30 and 31 and can block them when turned in certain positions. In the position of valve stem 39 shown in Fig. 1, its ports 40 and 4| keep open passages 21 and 31 respectively, whereas port 42 is turned at right angles to passage 30 so that the latter is blocked oil! by the valve stem. Handle 43 is fastened to the outer end 0f valve stem 39. In the position shown. handle`43 blocks oi the lower end of pipe 44, the upper end of said pipe entering space 35 for a purpose which will be explained hereafter. Lever 45 is pivotally mounted on the top of casting I6 in such position that it rests on top of valve rod 24. When the pressure in bypass or tube I9 is great enough to raise valve rod 24, it pushes up the outer end of lever 45 to which chain 46 is attached. 'I'he lower end of chain 46 is attached to handle 43, slack in the chain being provided that the handle can be turned 90 degrees as shown by the dot and dash lines and that the lever can rise. The hub 41 0f lever 45 is provided with recesses 48, Figs. 1 and 4, adapted to be engaged by spring catch 49, so that lever 45 will remain in its extreme upper and lower positions when pushed there. The upper end of a. flexible label 50 is attached t0 lever 45, while its lower end is xed to casting I'6. When lever 45 is in its upper position, as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, label 50 is extended to show that the filter requires cleaning. The label remains extended due to catch 49, even when the motor stops and there is no pressure in the lubricating system.

In the normal operation of the iilter, valve stem 39 is set as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Oil then passes from the pressure side of the lubricating system, through pipe 28 into passage 21, distributing space 26, screens I8, felt screen 10, space 35, passage 34, tube 36, passage 31, tube 38 back to the lubricating system. When continued iioW of the oil through the screens causes them to clog from the accumulation of sludge, the pressure in chamber 5| increases until it pushes up valve plug 20. Before iiutes 2| reach the top of bypass I9,

no oil escapes from it, b'ut lever 45 is pushed up displaying label 50 as shown by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 1 indicating that the iilter needs cleaning. Further increase in pressure by a further increase of sludge on screens I8 forces plug 20 up far enough to expose utes 2 I, as shown in Fig. 5, allowing the oil to ow through'bypass I9, tube 3B and back to the lubricating system. In order to clean the screens, which are now prac- `tically inoperative, handle 43 is turned 90 degrees.

-is blocked of! by handle 43, vso that no' cleaning fluid can be introduced into the illter at this time when it would enter the lubricating system. When handle 43 is turned, port 42 is turned to open passage 39 for discharge from sump 29 into sludge receptacle 3|, while ports 4| and 4|!4 are turned across passages 31 and 21, so that valve stem 39 blocks them, completely cutting oi the filter from the lubricating system. Air or other fluid is now forced into pipe 44, from whence it passes into space 35 and down through screens I8 into sump 29 and receptacle 3| carrying with it the sludge from the screens. As the interstices increase in size for the successively lower screens, the smaller particles originally caught by the screens above will be more readily enabled to pass through the lower screens. When suiiicient cleaning has been done, handlea43 is returned to its operating position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and cleaning this time of assembly, the suction first the filter is again in series with the lubricating removes the filtered out particles from the portion system for its normal filtering action. Pipe or of the porous mass nearest to the source of sucair connection u has inside or it (not seen) the tion. clearing the way then for the particles farusual air check valve, as on a tire. permitting the ther removed. ingress of air or other fluid, but not its egress. In th Wpc 0f illtelilig device 0f Fig. 12, the Instead of using the assembly shown in Figs. cleaning is `done by sending the oil from the 1 and 6 for filter chamber 5l, one containing porlubricating'system through the filter chamber 5I ous lling material 5l as shown in Fig. 5 may be in the reverse direction. used. 'Ihe chamber is divided into compartl0 Theconstruction of the device of Fig. 12 is the ments by wide meshed screens 53. Between each same as that shown in Fig. 9 except that relief pair of screens is retained the porous filling mavalve 59 is omitted, and a port 63 is provided in terial 54. This material may be granular or of valve stem .WhichlefdS from bYDaSS 3| through cellulosic fiber; the nlling material in the coma small passage El intopassage 31 of casting I1. `partment nearest the top of chamber 5t is more l5' The sludge receptacle 3l is the same as that compact and has smaller pores or interstices than shown `in Fig. 1; With valve stem I6 set as the one next below it, and in each succeeding shownln Fig. 12, there is no iiowof oil from the chamber below, the filling material is successivelubricating system to the inlet side of'chamber ly less compact with successively larger pores 5l and out of .the outlet side of the chamber The nearer the top a compartment is, the smaller4 20 back into the lubricating System- Instead. byits depth is. The assembly of Fig. 5 when used. pass M leads some of the oil from pipe 2B, conin the filter device as a whole, acts as previously nected `to the pressure sideof the lubricating described for Figs. 1-4 and 6. system, into port and passages $4 and 31 lead- In the form of filter shown in Figs. 9, and 11, lng to the outlet side of the chamber from whence instead of forcing cleaning fluid .into the outlet it passes through screens Ilin the reverse direcside of chamber 5l, suction is applied to thesump tion for their cleaning. The rest of the oil passes side of said chamber to suck out the impurities. "fi'Oin bYIJaSS 5| into tube-38 back t0 the lubricat- As with the filter of Fig. 1, screens I B and bying system. 'I'he reverse now finally leads to pass i9 are provided, together-'with valve plug sludge receptaclexll. At the same time this 20 and lever I5. The chain 46 between lever 4'! 3o reverse'fiow takes place, bypass 6| leads the rest and valve handle 43 is not needed as there is of theoilback to the lubricating system through reduced pressure in chamber 5i during the time Pipe 3l.'` When" Valve Stem 55 1S turned 90 devalve stem 55 is set for cleaning. Valve stem grecs from that shown, all flow through bYDaSS 55 is provided with ports 40, 4| and l2 for conil `is cut of!` and the normal fiow through the trolling the fiow respectively through passages filter takes place from thepressure side of the 21, 31 and 30. When the filter is in normal oper-v lubricatlngisystem from pipe 28. The filter asation, valve stem 55 is setjat 90 degrees from ,sembly 0f Fig. 5 can alsobe used in the type uf that shown in Fig. 9, injvhich case the ports .device shown in Fig.v12. v will be turned as shown in Fig. 1, allowing flow Where vconsistent withthe context, the term through the filter from the pressure side o! the 40 oil" as used in the claims is intended to be broad lubricating system. With valve stem 55 set as enough tOcOVer Other Suitable.fluids.`

-shown in Fig. 9 the filter is" in condition "for I claim: i i i 1j Cleaning, Sludge reooptado 55, Figs, 9 and 10, l. An oil filter comprising a housing enclosing "ig provided with a spout 5 1 An injector tubo a chamber, means in the chamber for filtering 58, having a small orifice, is set with the orifice the Oil Said Chamber having an inlet from the over the end of spout 51, giving riso to a region pressure side of a lubricating system and an outof low pressure there when air is forced through let t0 the System whereby 011 is causedfto DBfSS Said tubo from a, Soul-oe of an pressure, not ,:=;through the filtering means, apressure controlled shown. This causes air to be sucked from redeY in Said 'Chamber mounted fOr'leclPlOGal ceptecle 5s and chamber 5|. A relief check valve 5 .motion therein, scid device moving in cnc direc- 59 allows air to enter chamber 5| but not"t'o ticnlwith an increase in pressure in the chamleave ith The sucking air from chamber( ber, and in the OppOSite directiqn a decrease pulls down .filtered out particles from screens in' Said Pressure. a telltale device, a member exg3, the inox-oase in sizoof'the interstioes of tho; tending between said devices, said telltale 4device successivel screens Afacilitating the particles in 56 being moved by said pressure controlled device reoohnfg.;umpzg` and, eceptacle A bagne 50 through the agency of said member to displayed is provided iii'rceptacle 56 to prevent the dis- DOSUOD When the Pressure increases beyond Suid eliargefofI sludge therefrom. With valve stem predetermined amount due t0 the clogging 0f inthe position shown for it in Fig. 9, the filter the iiitcrin means, end dctcnt mechanism for is out off from the lubric'fmg System .o releasably holding the telltale means in displayed A slot 5|, Figo 9 and 11... provided in valve position when so set irrespective oi' motion oi' the Stem 55, xtending from passage 31 to passage pressure controlled device in said opposite direc- 21. The slot serves as a bypass of the filter, so on when the Pressure decreases that should the enginev be running, oil will be 2 An ou mteng device comprising a' housing permitted to flow through the lubricating system l having a Chamber therein With a normal inlet even though passages 21 and 31 are blocked of; from the pressure side of a lubricating system by valve stem 55. This is especially useful where and 9" normal Outlet t0 the System. means in the suction used for cleaning is derived' from seid chamber through which the cii is caused to the intake manifold oi! the engine instead of us- W normally on its way from Said inlet to said ing an injector tube'. In Fig. 13, receptacle |56 70 outlet for filtering the oil, said chamber having is provided with a tube 62 which connects with in addition to said inlet and outlet, a cleanout 4 the intake manifold. inlet on the outlet side of the filtering means The porous filling material type of assembly of 'with its entrance on the outside of the housing, Fig. 5 is also adapted for use in the suction and a cleanout outlet on the inlet side of said cleaning type of filters of Figs. 9, 10 and 13.` In 75 means for discharging from said chamber,A the cleanout inlet being adapted at its entrance to be connected removably to a ysource of cleaning fluid under pressure, cut-off means engaging the normal inlet, normal outlet and the cleanout outlet, permitting or blocking the flow through said latter inlet and outlets in accordance with the position in which it is set, and a handle outside of the housing and attached to the cut-off means for setting the latter in its several positions, in one of saidy positions the handle is located to block the entrance to the cleanout inlet preventing its connection to said source of cleaning fluid, and in another position the handle is sufficiently clear `of the cleanout to permit said connection, .said handle being adjacent to and blocking the entrance to the cleanout inlet, preventing thereby the introduction of cleaning fluid when the cut-olf means is set in position to permit the normal flow through the normal inlet and normal outlet and to block the cleanout outlet, said cut-off means when it is desired to clean the lter means being set in position to cut oil the normal flow of oil between the chamber and the lubricating system and to open the cleanout outlet, having its handle suillciently clear of the entrance to the cleanout inlet to permit the latter to be connected to the source of cleaning fluid for receiving said fluid under pressure, said fluid when so received forcing its way through the filter means in a direction opposite from normal and out the cleanout outlet.

3. An oil filter as claimed in claim 2, having a pressure controlled device in its chamber mounted for reciprocal motion therein, said. device moving in one direction with an increase in pressure in the chamber, and in the opposite direction with a decrease in said pressure, a telltale device, a member extending between said devices, said telltale device being moved to displayed position by said pressure controllf-d dcvice through the agency of said member when` telltale device, said line being of such length to permit said telltale device to move to displayed position when the handle blocks off the cleanout inlet, said line pulling the telltale device to undisplayed position when the handle is moved to be clear of the entrance to the cleanout inlet.I

4. An oil ltering device comprising a housing having a chamber therein with a normal inlet from the pressure side of a lubricating system and a normal outlet to the system, means in thechamber through which the oil is caused normally to ow on its way from said inlet to said outlet for filtering the oil, said chamber having also a cleanout inlet with its entrance on the outside of the housing, communicating with the chamber on the outlet side of the filtering means,

and a cleanout outlet on the inlet side of said means for discharging from the chamber, the cleanout inlet adapted at its entrance to be connected removably to a source of cleaning fluid under pressure, valve means engaging the normal'inlet, normal outlet and the cleanout outlet, permitting or blocking flow through said latter inlet and outlets in accordance with the position in which it is set, a handle on the valve means outside of the housing for setting the valve means in its several positions, in ,one of said positions the handle is located to block the entrance to the cleanout inlet preventing its connection to said source of cleaning uid, and in another position the handle is suilciently clear of the cleanout'tc permit said connection, said handle beingadjacent to and blocking the entrance to the cleanout inlet when the valve means is set inposltion for normal flow, preventing thereby introduction of cleaning fluid, and being clear of said entrance to permit the latter to be connected to the source of cleaning fluid when the valve means is set to stop said normal flow and open `the cleanout opening, a pressure controlled telltale device in communication with the inside of the chamber, moved to displayed position when the pressure in the chamber exceeds a predetermined amount, and a member connecting the handle with the telltale device, said handle moving the telltale device to undisplayed position when the handle is set to clear the entrance to the cleanout inlet.

MORRIS KATCHER. 

